GUILTY THING SURPRISED, A

By Ruth Rendell

Book Overview

In A Guilty Thing Surprised multi-million copy and SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author Ruth Rendell has created a thriller so taut and tense and full of twists and turns you'll be gripped from page one. An absolute must for fans of PD James Ann Cleeves and Donna Leon.

'Ruth Rendell is England's premier detective-thriller writer' -- Spectator
'The best mystery writer in the English-speaking world' -- The Times
'Ruth Rendell has a sharp and perceptive eye for everyday detail an uncanny understanding of human behaviour and above all the ability to colour innocence with evil' -- The Sunday Telegraph
'I could not put the book down ' -- ***** Reader review
'You'll love it ' -- ***** Reader review
'A real page-turner' -- ***** Reader review
'Wexford at his compelling best' -- ***** Reader review

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EVEN THE DEAD HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE...

The discovery of Elizabeth Nightingale's broken body in the woods near her home could not have come as a bigger shock.

Called in to investigate Chief Inspector Wexford quickly determines that the Nightingales were considered the perfect couple - wealthy attractive and without an enemy in the world.

However someone must have been alone with Elizabeth that night in the woods. Someone who hated - or perhaps loved - her enough to beat her to death.

The case seems straightforward. But Wexford soon learns that beneath the placid surface of the Nightingales' lives lie undercurrents and secrets no one ever suspected...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0099534843
• ISBN13: 9780099534846
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Arrow
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.7" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

A completely unexpected outcome

This was an enjoyable book because there were several possibilities presented, but the person who was responsible for murdering the victim was unexpected.I had no idea of where the case was headed and was surprised at the end. An excellent read. Ins. Wexford is a favorite.

Excellent murder mystery

Terrific vintage Rendell, one of the best Chief Inspector Wexford mysteries. The wealthy and beautiful Elizabeth Nightingale is murdered one night in the woods, and it is up to the intelligent, cantankerous Wexford and his sidekick Burden to solve the crime. This appears at first to be a fairly ordinary mystery; the leisurely pace and sharp humor may fool the reader into thinking that this is a peaceful, quiet novel. The final revelation, however, is disturbing and shocking, one of the author's most gripping and powerful conclusions. Otherwise, a fairly light, literate, entertaining mystery, written in Rendell's irresistably readable prose style, filled with ingenious plot twists and numerous red herrings. A bravura performance; even this comparatively minor work shows that Rendell can easily outwrite the vast majority of her contemporaries.